What to know in the Melodee Buzzard missing case

(NewsNation) — The search continues for missing 9-year-old California girl Melodee Buzzard, who has not been seen since Oct. 9.

Melodee was last caught on surveillance video with her mom, Ashlee Buzzard, on a cross-country road trip from California. Thus far, Ashlee has been uncooperative with authorities amid the ongoing investigation.

What happened to Melodee Buzzard?

It is unknown what exactly has happened to Melodee, other than the fact she is missing. Authorities have not determined her condition or whereabouts.

Melodee was reported missing Oct. 14 by a Lompoc, California, Unified School District administrator. Her sister and aunt told "Banfield" on Monday that they are "in the dark" regarding Melodee, both from authorities and her mother.

Investigators confirmed Melodee was with her mother, and both were wearing wigs, Oct. 9 around the Colorado–Utah border area.

What are the latest updates?

In a statement released Monday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Melodee left California with her mother on a cross-country trip that took them as far east as Nebraska and Kansas.

Authorities also noted that Oct. 8, one day after the trip commenced, the white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, a rental car driven by Ashlee Buzzard, had a different license plate. Authorities say that when it was returned to the car rental business in Lompoc, California, it had the original California plates back on.

They also determined she was with her mother while driving through Green River, Utah, Panguitch, Utah, northwest Arizona, Primm, Nevada, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, on or around Oct. 9.

What is the timeline in the Melodee Buzzard case?

The car initially bore California license plate 9MNG101 and was then switched to a New York license plate HCG9677. It is unclear when this occurred or if other plates were also used during the trip.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are sharing additional information, a route map, and photo that includes Ashlee Buzzard in their ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

Ashlee returned to California on Oct. 10 without her daughter, according to investigators. Since returning to the Golden State, Ashlee's home has been searched by the FBI and other investigators.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Ashlee has been uncooperative with the investigation and has not confirmed the well-being or whereabouts of her daughter.

How can the public help?

Melodee Buzzard is approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall, 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s office via the detectives line: 805-681-4150, the anonymous tip line: 805-681-4171, or online tips via www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.